Golf in the State of Minnesota
Minnesota, a state in the upper midwest region of the United States is known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes" and the “North Star State”. The metro area of Twin Cities Minneapolis / St Paul houses the majority of the state's residents, and 180 of the state’s 465 golf courses. Additionally, other major urban centers such as Brainerd with 35 courses, Rochester with 24, Duluth with 23, St Cloud with 20 and Mankato with 9, help to provide venues for the incredible 25% or more of state residents who regularly try their hand at the sport. Excellent, affordable public courses are available statewide.
A diverse geography, including prairies and deciduous forests, provides the backdrop for interesting course design. Chaska Town Course, Chaska, owned and operated by the city, boasts a venue comprised of oak groves, open prairie and marshlands. Geneva Golf Club, Alexandria, advises “The course consists of three nines; The Ponds, Island, and Marsh courses, each offering 5 sets of tees, a unique personality, and a stern challenge for even the most talented golfer.” The Wilds Golf Club, Prior Lake, designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, features wet-lands, wildlife habitats, Ponderosa pines and hardwoods, with water incorporated into over half of the holes. Rush Creek Golf Club, Maple Grove, calls itself “Minnesota’s premier golf facility” and is located a short drive from downtown Minneapolis. Emerald Greens Golf Course, Hastings, offers two 18-hole championship courses and shares with us the comment - “Everything a Great Golf Experience Should Be”.
Pro golfers from Minnesota include Tom Lehman, born in Austin, who is the only golfer to win Player of the Year honors on all three of the PGA’s Tours; Bea Barrett, born in Chicago, Illinois who won ten golf tournaments in Minnesota between 1933 and 1962 and was elected to the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame; Chris Perry, born in Edenton, North Carolina, who was the Minnesota High School Golf Champion three years in a row and turned pro in 1984. Both his father Jim and his uncle Gaylord were Major League Baseball pitchers; Mike Morely, born in Morris, who was voted 2002's Mr. Golf by the Minnesota Golf Association; Kay McMahon, born in Minneapolis, who is a member of the LPGA T&CP Golf Hall of Fame and is now Director of Instruction at eduKaytion Golf at the Cranwell Resort and Golf Club in Lenox, Massachusetts, and Tim Herron, born in Minneapolis and now residing in Wayzata, who had a father and grandfather, each of whom played in the US Open.